﻿JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1917. 21 



44059 and 44060— Continued. 



which they produce. In other parts of Alt a Vera Paz the pacaya Is 

 also quite common, and it is grown in the southern part of Guatemala 

 as well. Since it succeeds here at elevations of 5,000 feet or even higher, 

 where the winters are quite cool, it would seem that it ought to be 

 a success in southern California and Florida, though it is difficult 

 to predict what effect the sandy soil of the latter Stale may have 

 upon it. The palm grows to a height of 15 feet, having a slender stem 

 about 2 inches in diameter and handsome leave?, somewhat reminding 

 one of Chrysalidocarpus lutescens (Areca lutescens). The foliage is 

 of a rich-green color. The inflorescences are produced along the trunk 

 in the winter and spring, and apparently more or less throughout the 

 year. Before the spatlie has opened it is removed from the palm 

 opened, and the tender inflorescence, nearly white in color and finely 

 branched, is removed and eaten. Its preparation for the table con- 

 sists in dipping it in a batter made of eggs and then frying it : in 

 enveloping it in an omelet; in boiling it and serving it as a vegetable; 

 or in mixing it with other vegetables to form a salad. When very 

 young and tender its flavor is agreeable, but when older and nearly 

 ready to emerge from the spathe it ha ■; a strongly bitter taste, which 

 makes it disagreeable. It should therefore be used when quite young. 

 The pacaya palm grows in a variety of soils, seeming to do well on 

 clay and also on black sandy loam. An abundance of lime in the soil 

 does not seem to injure it. It is frequently planted in gardens among 

 coffee bushes, and in many sections it is planted beneath large trees. 

 where it has partial shade. I have seen many beneath large avocado 

 trees, interplanted with coffee bushes. It may be necessary to furnish 

 shade for the palms in California and Florida by means of a slat house 

 or some such device, or they might be planted beneath large trees, as 

 they are in Guatemala. The pacaya as an article of food is exten- 

 sively used in Guatemala and by local standards commands a good price, 

 single inflorescences usually selling at two to five for a peso {2h cents). 

 The spathes are pulled, from the palms, tied together in small bundles, 

 and thus brought to market." (Popenoe.) 



44060. Vitis tiliaefolia Huiiib. and Bon pi. Vitacea?. Grape. 



(T\ <-<irib(i('(i DC.) 

 "(No. 81a. Guatemala, Guatemala. December 20, 1916.) A native 

 grape sold in the markets of Guatemala. The bunches are about the 

 size of those of Vitis caribaea and the berries very similar; it may. in 

 fact, be this species, though I do not know whether or not V. <-<i ribaea 

 occurs in Guatemala. The fruit is used to make jelly. For trial in 

 southern Florida in connection with the work of producing a grape 

 adapted to tropical and subtropical conditions." (Popenoe.) 



44061. Aleueites trisperma Blanco. Euphorbiaceee. 



Soft lumbang. 



»From the Philippine Islands. Presented by Mr. A. W. Prautch. through 

 Mr. Adn. Hernandez, director, Manila Bureau of Agriculture. Received 

 January 22, 1917. 



"Mr. Prautch lias returned from his trip to Cavite Province with seeds and 

 leaves of Aleurites trisperma. The nuts were picked up under the trees, where 

 they had been lying since last August, in which month the tree fruits. As you 

 have alreadv successfully introduced Aleurites moluccana in the United States, 



